this is next on my list of games to buy, next time im at the mall ill pick this up.

I've made it to the "second disc" and I'm really loving it. What's really funny is that there's no define marker anymore to let you know you've gone to the second disc if what would be the PS version, so only hard core players will know where that is.

At least until I give it away by saying that I've met the Wise Men... and they did a WONDERFUL job bringing their characters to life in this one. Their voices and portraits were just spot on. *applauds*

*chuckles that decus looks like he's pulling the Night Rider look*

::edit::

I completely forgot about the Dr. Lantis in SO2. My name has no relation, but it's cool to see never the less.

While Rena's portrait does bother me, the others do not. I also like that they added portraits for key NPC's and voiced them as well. Nice work getting that far, Lantis. You sound like you are right on track for a completion before SO4 hits (in like 2 weeks!!! ) I think I will be falling behind as I am spending too much time reading a really good book

I am playing with only Claude and Rena. I always wanted to do this way back in the PS1 days but never got to it. I am however, doing the quests for the optional characters as I go. I am just denying them once I complete the quests. I just did that with Celine and I am in the process of doing the same with Ashton. Next I will actually recruit Opera permanently but once I get Ernest's quest to the end, I will reject him and she will leave to be with him.

Other than those, are there any other optional quests that I can do but still deny party members afterwards? I can't remember if Precis or Bowman let me deny them at some point or if it's just "Hey join us" and they do. And what about Leon? It's been so long I can't remember those ones.

Yup, you can deny all of them. Though, I think that is a crazy idea seeing as the wisemen will rape you up the ass.

I'm facing off against the wisemen now and boy I hate the second group you fight in the tower (one of them is the fire based guy.) Had a quite a time against them in the original too. I just hope the last boss isn't impossible like the last time.

Yeah I know I can deny all of them but I mean, do they all have side quests to do in order to recruit them that afterwards I can deny them? That way I still get the benefit of doing the quest for items and leveling while still playing just Claude and Rena.

Like how you get Ashton in your party long enough to obtain the Kings Tear but once you get it, then you can kick him out. Or is it with Precis, Bowman, Leon that there is no side quest to temporarily let them join. Instead do they just join and continue the main story?

I just don't want to get stuck with them and find out some 5 hours in that I can't get rid of them.

And I know the Ten Wise Men will be tough but that's sorta why I am doing it. I want to see if I can. Since SK already did this, I know it is possible, I just want to see if I can.

Bowman asks to join the party once you complete this manditory trip through this cave. Precis, I never got her and I was pissed to find out you can't get her if you have Bowman. You get the option to ditch Leon once you go to that village on the Ell continent.

I've been running a new party. Claude and Rena, of course... but I'm using Bowman and Noel this time around. Having two healers is actually really freaking nice. Specially when one is dead and you get a revive with one person, and heal with the other off.

I've gotten to the end of the four fields. I started off with the Field of Love and grinded there a good while. The clear slimes, if they split to 6 enemies drop 130k in exp. If you are training and practicing enlightenment, that goes up somewhere around an additional 15k. That's not to mention the addtional SP you get for training/enlightenment. I've got most the talents I need to do just about everything it is I need to get ready for Gabriel Celest and Isellia Queen.

I recently beat the game again after deleting my first file as Claude. I finished with a full party. Funny thing is I still to this day have never recruited Ernest. I am now playing as Rena on Universe.
It is way hard. I gameovered three times in the Salva Mines (where you first start battling as Rena) and since then I have gameovered twice more in the Cross Cave with Celine. Might have something to do with still being under level 8 with all three of them. It is just so hard to level up on Universe!

I have only completed the game once before as Rena and so I thought I should give that a go on PSP.

You just reminded me, insulta. I still need to go back and finish that round through Universe mode. I think it's been, like, two years since I got stranded at that boss fight in the Minhern cavern.

I thought about that when I started and always assumed you finished. Now I remember why I only did this once before.

I seriously intend to, though. SK never turns away from a a challenge when it comes to fighting evil ! *super-hero pose*


.... Getting flat-lined in one casting of that boss's Lost Patience spell was just a little soul-crushing for me, that's all. I'm sure just an hour or two of leveling up in the Field of Power will remedy that. ^_-